Naturalization Question in Latvia is Settled

The legal status in the country of non-Latvian citizens which constitutes a perplexing problem to the category of Staatenlose (men without a country) and to the government, was settled by amendments to the citizenship law adopted yesterday by the Latvian parliament.

Under these amendments all persons who had lived in Latvia six months prior to August 1, 1914, or who have lived in the country since 1925 will be granted naturalization papers. These amendments are in accordance with the national minority clauses which provide for the granting of citizenship to the residents of these territories which changed sovereignty following the rearrangement of the European map at the Versailles conference.

Opposition to these amendments was voiced by the center parties who were outvoted. Leaders of these parties declared that they will carry the question to a popular referendum.